Catch The Replay Monday, Lub ob hlis ntuj 3 Ntawm 10 p.m. ET / PT Nyob SHOWTIME huab®
NyemNTAWM NO rau cov duab; Credit Dave Mandel/SHOWTIME
SHREVEPORT, La. – January 31, 2020 - After his fourth consecutive victory in a little more than 12 months onShoBox: Tshiab Tiam, Ruben Villa is ready to graduate from the 19-year prospect series.
The undefeated featherweight Villa put on a boxing clinic in a dominating unanimous decision win over Alexei Collado. The judges scored the fight 99-91 and 98-92 twice in the main event Friday night from George’s Pond at Hirsch Coliseum in Shreveport, Lub.
The 22-year-old Salinas, California., native Villa (18-0, 5 Kos), who entered the ring paying tribute to the late Kobe Bryant by wearing his No. 8 Lakers jersey into the ring, called his performance “solid” against a “tough and aggressive fighter.”
“He was challenging throughout the fight,” said Villa. “I feel like I put on a good show. He was a big knockout puncher and he’s no pushover. He brought out the best in me.”
Vaj Ncaim, who was the was also the 2014 thiab 2016 National Golden Gloves Champion, is currently ranked No. 5 ntawm 126 pounds by the WBO and No. 13 los ntawm lub Qhov. He said after the fight he’s ready for the best his division has to offer.
The 31-year-old Cuban Collado (26-3, 23 Kos) who lives in Miami, lost for the first time in seven bouts. “It was a good fight,” said Collado, who won the 2006 Junior World Title in the flyweight division. “We both brought everything. We put on a good show for the fans. He moves a lot and he’s a smart fighter. I feel like when I threw a lot I hit him but I wasn’t active enough.”
Villa said he stayed disciplined training during the holidays. “Now I’m going to take a few weeks off and then get right back in the gym,"Nws hais tias.
Nyob rau hauv lub co-featured bout, undefeated Ukrainian and 2012 Olympic Bronze medalist Taras Shelestyuk (18-0, 10 Kos) recorded a dominating unanimous decision victory against Argentina’s Luis Alberto Veron (18-2-2, 9 Kos). The judges scored the 10-round welterweight fight 97-93 thiab 98-92 ob zaug.
Shelestyuk, who overcame a bad fifth-round cut on his forehead, had boxed just 10 rounds in the last three years.
“It was a good fight,” Shelestyuk said. “I hit him with some good shots, and controlled the fight. I have been out since March, and I feel that I performed well. I am happy to be back on television.
“The cut didn’t bother me. This is professional boxing, and these things happen. I want to be back in May or June. If I come back in the next several months, I want to fight a big name – guys like Keith Thurman and Danny Garcia.”
In the telecast opener, late replacement Sulaiman Segawa (12-2-1, 3 Kos) looked impressive in hisShoBox debut seemingly out-boxing Zhora Hamazaryan (9-1-2, 6 Kos) and recording the better stat sheet, but the close lightweight fight was called a split-decision draw. One judge had Segawa winning 78-74, another 77-75 for Hamazaryan and the third judge called it even, 76-76.
ShoBox analyst Steve Farhood had the fight scored 77-75 Segawa, while Barry Tompkins and Raul Marquez both saw it 78-74 in favor of Segawa.
“I won the fight,” said Segawa, who took the fight on just four days’ notice. “I maintained him and his aggressiveness. I came up to his weight and dictated the action. I staggered him a couple of times and he was not touching me.”
Segawa earned the better stats in nearly every category. Hamazaryan was more active (57.5 punches per round to Segawa’s 53.6) but Segawa outlanded him 130-100 zuag qhia tag nrho, 42-14 jabs and 88-86 power and was more accurate in all phases (30%-22% zuag qhia tag nrho, 28%-8% jabs, 31.3%-31.1% hwj chim). Segawa even led 25-22 in body connects
Segawa, 28, moved to Silver Spring, Md., two years ago and is originally from Kampala, Uganda. He has won six times against previously undefeated opponents with his two losses also to undefeated fighters.
Hamazaryan, who was making his thirdShoBox tsos, returned to the ring after 16 months as he returned to his native Armenia to get his physical education degree.
“It was a good fight,” the 23-year-old Hamazaryan said. “I started slow because of the switch in opposition and felt rusty. I’m going to go right back to the gym and keep on learning. And I will be better.”
It was the second consecutive split draw for Hamazaryan, who also recorded a split draw against Thomas Mattice in his lastShoBox appearance in September of 2018.
Friday’s fights were promoted by Banner Promotions, Thompson Boxing and Bishop Promotions LLC. The full telecast will replay on Monday, Lub ob hlis ntuj 3 ntawm 10 p.m. ET/PT on SHOWTIME EXTREME and will be available on SHOWTIME ANYTIME® and SHOWTIME on DEMAND®.
Hall of Famer Barry Tompkins called the action from ringside with fellow Hall of Famer Steve Farhood and former world champion Raul Marquez serving as expert analysts. Cov thawj tsim yog Gordon Hall nrog Richard Gaughan ua thiab Rick Phillips coj.
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Hais txogShoBox: Tshiab Tiam
Txij thaum nws inception nyob rau hauv Lub Xya hli ntuj 2001, lub critically acclaimed SHOWTIME boxing series, ShoBox: Tshiab Tiam tau featured hluas txuj ci sib phim nyuaj. LubShoBox philosophy yog televise exciting, neeg coob coob-pleasing thiab sib tw ntais thaum npaj ib qhov tseeb hauv av rau kam zeem muag txiav txim sib ntaus rau ib lub ntiaj teb title. Ib co ntawm cov loj hlob daim ntawv teev cov 81 neeg tua hluav taws uas tau tshwm sim rauShoBox thiab advanced rau garner ntiaj teb no lub npe muaj xws li: Errol Spence Jr., Lwm Ward, Deontay Wilder, Erislandy Lara, Shawn Porter, Gary Russell Jr., Lamont Peterson, Guillermo Rigondeaux, Nonito Donaire, Devon Alexander, Carl Froch, Robert Guerrero, Timothy Bradley, Jessie Vargas, Juan Manuel Lopez, Chad Dawson, Paulie Malignaggi, Ricky Hatton, Kelly Pavlik, Paul Williams thiab ntau yam ntxiv.